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Deadline To Buy Insurance At Access Health CT Is Midnight Friday

Hartford Courant (CT)

Dec. 21--Consumers in Connecticut have until midnight Friday to sign up for 2018 health insurance coverage on the state's health insurance exchange and will continue to face a financial penalty if they don't have insurance next year.

Republicans in Congress included a repeal of the individual mandate in the tax bill that passed this week, but Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh said the repeal won't take effect right away, so people who don't have coverage next year will have to pay a federal tax penalty.

"You still need to purchase health insurance," Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said a news conference Thursday. "And it's a good thing to have because you never know when an accident or a health care crisis could happen."

Wadleigh said about 106,000 people had signed up for health insurance plans so far, closing in on last year's open enrollment total of 110,000.

This year's open enrollment period -- cut down to seven weeks rather than three months -- has been the most difficult so far, Wadleigh said, particularly because of confusion caused by Republicans' repeated attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

At a signing ceremony for the tax legislation, President Donald Trump said: "We have essentially repealed Obamacare." Wadleigh said that simply isn't true. The mandate was repealed, but consumers can still buy coverage and will still receive financial help to pay their premiums if they qualify.

"It won't be the first time the president has said something that is not correct," Wyman said. She said Trump and Republicans in Congress have "created a lot of confusion for consumers and uncertainty in the marketplace."

The two insurers left selling plans on Access Health CT -- Anthem and ConnectiCare -- both increased their rates by double digits for next year, in part due to questions about the future of Obamacare.

Repealing the individual mandate is projected to reduce insurance rolls by 13 million nationally and cause premiums to rise 10 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Young, healthy individuals who insurers want to keep enrolled to offset the costs of sicker customers are predicted to be among those who drop out.

Wyman said state officials are weighing adopting a statewide health insurance mandate like Massachusetts has done to provide carriers with more stability.

Consumers can shop for health insurance coverage by visiting www.accesshealthct.com or calling 1-855-805-4325.